2. From this session, what information made a lasting impression?
I continue to be amazed at the mulititude of resources that are available and the creativity of teachers when using these tools with students.
Most of the resources I discovered at the conference are free! and available online
3. How will you use this information as a teacher? (Productivity tool? Instructional tool?)
I will begin to use many of the tools personally - both for productivy and instructionally
I will begin to incorporate them into my professional development sessions that I hold with teachers
I'm using some of the new resources to share information with district and state level collegues
We have plans to develop a Web 2.0 MSDE course for teachers
My personal goal is to begin using my Palm more effectively and more consistantly
4. How will your students use this information? (What kind of learning activity?)
While I don't teach student directly I'll be using the information to develop instructional resources that teachers can use with students.
5. What kind of product will be produced from this type of educational handheld activity?
I would like to see us develop a bank of activities that could be shared. Each activity would be tied to content standards and Maryland tech standards for students.
I would like to see FCPS implement a program to use Palms with our ILP students. I think the organizational features i.e. notepad, calendar as well as the capacity to word process, read text (ebooks), drawing and concept mapping would be extremely motivating and beneficial for this particular group of students.
6. How will you assess the student-created product?
The ultimate assessments are -are our students "technologically literate" by grade 8 and was learning enhanced by using the tool. To get to that point it is important to provide simple formative measurements based on the content and state technology standards for students. Perhaps quick formatives after activities... for example, have student keep journals written on a wiki or on their Palm on what they learned, their thoughts and feelings about activities, have students diagram a learning activity - possibly using picomap
7. What roadblocks are currently in place that would prevent you from doing this in your classroom?
I think the one roadblock is time. I know this sounds like the same old song we always sing...but there are so many needs and the time it takes to develop professional development materials along with the daily responsibilities of my job is huge.
Another roadblock is "FCPS is not there yet" . Some of our infrustructure is not yet ready for many of the newer technologies. I think the idea of taking Palms mobile is great but we just don't have the wireless infrastructure to support this kind of activity. Other problems are issues with synching Palms. There are some solutions but not everyone can afford the solutions or they do not have dedicated personel (I mean someone hired to help) to assist teachers.
There are lots of financial roadblocks - there are so many technology needs for the basics in each school that sometimes handhelds are looked at as add on and not "necessary" for instruction. It's hard to convince those with the funding sources that Palms can do most of what a computer can do at a fraction of the cost plus they are very motivating to students.
Conference Information
1. Session title and presenter name
2. From this session, what information made a lasting impression?
3. How will you use this information as a teacher? (Productivity tool? Instructional tool?)
4. How will your students use this information? (What kind of learning activity?)
- While I don't teach student directly I'll be using the information to develop instructional resources that teachers can use with students.
5. What kind of product will be produced from this type of educational handheld activity?- I would like to see us develop a bank of activities that could be shared. Each activity would be tied to content standards and Maryland tech standards for students.
- I would like to see FCPS implement a program to use Palms with our ILP students. I think the organizational features i.e. notepad, calendar as well as the capacity to word process, read text (ebooks), drawing and concept mapping would be extremely motivating and beneficial for this particular group of students.
6. How will you assess the student-created product?7. What roadblocks are currently in place that would prevent you from doing this in your classroom?